Health and Safety
Executive
WD4
4
COSHH essentials for
woodworkers
This information will help
employers and the self-
employed comply with the
Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002 (COSHH), as amended, to
control exposure to wood dust and protect
workers health.
It is also useful for trade union and
employee safety representatives.
This sheet describes good practice using
dust extraction.
It covers the points you need to follow to
reduce exposure to an adequate level.
It is important to follow all the points, or
use equally effective measures.
Main points
I Cutting produces high dust levels.
I Keep exposure as low as possible
using all the controls in this sheet.
I Make sure the controls work.
I Use health surveillance for asthma and
dermatitis - see sheets G402 and
G403.
Also see sheet WD0.
Vertical spindle moulder
Control approach 2 Engineering control
Hazard
 Wood dust includes dust from hardwood, softwood and composite
boards such as MDF.
 Wood dust can cause cancer, dermatitis, and serious lung diseases
including asthma.
 The dermatitis risk is high for softwoods.
 The asthma risk is highest for woods like Western Red Cedar.
 Control exposure to stop occupational asthma developing. If an
individual does develop occupational asthma, avoid further exposure.
 When all controls are applied properly, less than 5 mg/m3 wood dust is
usually achievable (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average).
Access and premises
 Only allow access to authorised staff.
Equipment
 Cutting creates coarse
Cutter guard
and fine dust. Fit
Hood
extraction behind the
cutter guard and a hood
to capture ejected dust.
 For curved workpieces
Mov
there is a different cutter eme
nt
design, but the principles
for dust capture are the
same.
 Fit a manometer or
10-20 m/s
pressure gauge near
the extraction point, to
show that the system is working properly.
 You need an air speed between 10 and 20 metres per second (m/s)
into the cutter guard and hood to capture dust and chips.
 Keep extraction ducts short and simple; long sections of flexible duct
damage easily.
 Have a supply of clean air coming into the workroom to replace
extracted air.
 Consult a qualified ventilation engineer to design new control systems
and to update current controls. See sheet G406.
Woodworkers WD4 Engineering control

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

 Ask your supplier to help you select the right PPE.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)

 RPE should not be needed if the extraction is designed correctly and
working properly.
 RPE is needed for maintenance and cleaning.
 Provide RPE with an assigned protection factor (APF) of at least 10.
See sheet R2.
 Disposable RPE is acceptable - throw it away at the end of the task.
Otherwise, replace RPE filters as recommended by the supplier.
 Train workers to use RPE properly.
 Make sure all RPE is fit-tested - get advice from your supplier.
 Keep RPE clean. Store it away from dust.

Other PPE
 Provide coveralls that do not retain dust.
 Skin creams are important for skin condition and help in washing
contamination from the skin. After work creams help to replace skin
oils.
Caution: ‘Barrier creams’ do not create a full barrier.

Procedures
 Always confirm that the dust extraction is turned on and working at the
start of work. Check the gauge.
Caution: Don’t alter the dust extraction or the dampers yourself unless
the system is designed for this.

Maintenance, examination and testing

 Keep equipment in effective and efficient working order - follow
instructions in maintenance manuals.
 Daily, look for signs of damage. Noisy or vibrating fans can indicate a
problem.
 Repair faulty extraction systems as soon as possible. Meanwhile, wear
RPE.
 At least once a week, check that the dust extraction system and
gauges work properly.
 You need to know the manufacturer’s specifications to check the
extraction’s performance.
 If this information isn’t available, hire a competent ventilation engineer
to determine the performance needed for effective control.
 The engineer’s report must show the target extraction rates.
 Keep this information in your testing logbook.
 Get a competent ventilation engineer to examine the system thoroughly
and test its performance at least once every 14 months. See the HSE
publication HSG54 - see ‘Further information’.
 Examine and test non-disposable RPE thoroughly at least once every
three months.
 Consider air sampling to check the controls - see sheet G409.
 Keep records of all examinations and tests for at least five years.
Woodworkers WD4 Engineering control

Health surveillance
 Use health surveillance for asthma - see sheet G402. There is a
chance of asthma developing, even with good controls in place.
 For woods such as Western Red Cedar, use high-level surveillance. For
other woods, low-level surveillance is adequate.
 Use health surveillance for dermatitis. See sheet G403.
 Consult an occupational health professional - see ‘Useful links’.

Cleaning and housekeeping

 Clean the machinery and work area every day. Regular cleaning will
help you find dust leaks.
 Shovel large amounts carefully to avoid stirring up dust.
 Clean general workrooms once a week.
 Use a Class H vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter to clear up
dust.
Caution: Don’t use a brush or compressed air for cleaning surfaces and
clothing.

Training and supervision

 Tell your workers that wood dust can cause asthma, cancer and
dermatitis. Tell them what the early signs of asthma are.
 Working in the right way and using the controls correctly is important
for exposure control. Train and supervise workers. See sheet WD0.
 Include supervisors and managers in health and safety training.
 Ask your local Learning Skills Council or trade association for advice
on training providers.

Further information
I Maintenance, examination and testing of local exhaust ventilation
HSG54 (Second edition) HSE Books 1998 ISBN 978 0 7176 1485 1
I Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide
HSG53 (Third edition) HSE Books 2005 ISBN 978 0 7176 2904 6
I Woodworking Information Sheets -
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/woodindx.htm
I Preventing dermatitis at work: Advice for employers and employees
Leaflet INDG233 HSE Books 1996 (single copy free or priced packs of
15 ISBN 0 7176 1246 5)
I For environmental guidelines, see sheet WD0
Woodworkers WD4 Engineering control

Useful links Employee checklist

I HSE priced and free publications are available from HSE Books
Is the extraction switched
Tel: 01787 881165 Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk.
on and working properly, with
I For information about health and safety ring HSE’s Infoline Tel: 0845
the guard correctly adjusted?
345 0055 Textphone: 0845 408 9577 e-mail: hse.infoline@natbrit.com.
Check the gauge.
I Contact the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) on 01332
298101 or at www.bohs.org for lists of qualified hygienists who can Check that any RPE
help you. works properly every time
I Look in the Yellow Pages under ‘Health and safety consultants’ and you use it.
‘Health authorities and services’ for ‘occupational health’.
Look for signs of leaks,
I Also see www.nhsplus.nhs.uk.
wear and damage.

If you find any problems,

tell your supervisor. Don’t
just carry on working.

Co-operate with health

surveillance.

Use, maintain and store

your PPE in accordance with
instructions.

Wash your hands before

eating, drinking, smoking or
using the lavatory.

Never use solvents to

clean your skin.

Use skin creams provided

as instructed.

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the
guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if
you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply
with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance
with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.
Published by the Health and Safety Executive 11/07